Part 1 of a 2-part blog series
For approximately 15 years, towards the end of each academic year, I would invite the members of the graduating class to meet with me. Sorted by house affiliation this looked like 10 houses, 10 meetings, 30-60 minutes each. I would bring the snacks (or, the “chew”) and the students would bring their opinions and thoughts about the School (the “chat”). Thus, the meetings were termed Chew and Chats.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in earnest in March 2020, and the School went online for the remainder of the academic year, I did not host a Chew and Chat. Other factors (and ongoing COVID challenges) contributed to me not hosting these meetings in subsequent years. But, in 2024, I am pleased to announce that they are back!
The purpose of the Chew and Chats is to receive feedback from the graduating class, specifically, in their first-hand experience, about what they see as the strengths of the School and also areas where they feel TCS could improve. Over the years, I have found these sessions heartwarming, reaffirming, interesting and helpful. This year was no different.
I thought I would share a sampling of some of the thoughts the graduates shared with me regarding the strengths of TCS (in no particular order):
- Variety of the curricular and co-curricular programs
- House system and house events
- The sense of community
- Academic support and academic assistance
- Common spaces
- Post-secondary guidance
- Teachers and staff
- Extra activities during any given week
- Opening weeks
- Traditions
- It is easy to make friends here
- The School keeps us active
- Friday night events
- The terraces
- The campus
- Advanced Placement course offerings
- The food in Osler
- Morning chapel
- The academic schedule
Of all the feedback that I have received over the years, there is one comment that I hear repeatedly, which particularly reaffirms our purpose as a learning community. It is captured in this phrase: “The people at TCS truly care about me.”
